I have always forged my own path and danced to a different drum. I quit high school for the big smoke of Sydney in fierce pursuit of self-discovery and independence. I was immediately immersed into the club kid and queer under culture in the performance art and club scene.

How did you start a burlesque club?

My best friend at the time and I got home after travelling the world for a year and roped in two friends to bring our vision to life. It was more like a social experiment where women could explore movement and sexuality without the perusal and expectation of the male gaze - where we could reinvent our sexuality without the confines of what we were taught by society that was sexy. We broke down stereotypes and explored almost everything through humour, parody and reinvented Burlesque as "Neo Burlesque" for the 21st century as it exists today. It was basically a performance club that fused performance art, strip tease, feminism, body positivity and women controlling their own bodies.

How successful was it?

Australia's first burlesque club "Gurlesque" 2000-2010 is iconic in Australia's performing history, the longest running and most successful burlesque club in the southern hemisphere which went on to set the formula for independent, regular cabaret nights as well as harnessing and evolving many of today's popular independent and underground artists.

You then started a cabaret club - why?

Culture builds, changes and expands and to stay relevant you either need to be leading that change or part of it. I also was in the fight of my life with cancer and keen to expand my personal experiences. I wanted to explore other genres - by then, burlesque was mainstream across the country and indeed the world. In 2011 I started Pretty Peepers Cabaret. This took me into multi-platform arts from fringe, theatre, music and beyond, further expansion into creating my two award-winning one-woman shows "Let's get METAphysical" and "Bodymap"

In October 2019 you were the festival director of the Coastal Twist LGBTIQ arts and culture festival. What was the impetus for staging that?

I co-founded Coastal Twist Festival, the Central Coast's first national celebratory symbol celebrating LGBTIQ arts and culture. As the third largest region in NSW, sixth in Australia, we were the only one in the top 15 with zero LGBTIQ celebratory symbols. Before moving forward with anything else we needed to shine the light on inclusion.

How was its debut?

Coastal twist 2019 was the first ever diversity festival of its kind in the region, with an expected audience of 1500-2000. We more than tripled that with more than 7000 people and every event sold out. Coastal Twist 2020 will be on the October long weekend.

Why is the festival needed?

It has shaken things up in our local business and politics. It hasn't been a bed of roses getting social inclusion, unity and diversity as part of the "norm". Symbols are important as potent for all people whose true natures are forced to remain invisible, because of the fear of discrimination and ostracism. What has blown us away is the massive support from across the Coast: mums and dads, families, youth, Aboriginal community, people of all abilities, ages and creeds drowning out the blockers and outdated structures. The majority has been hungry to see human rights, inclusion and a more socially equitable Central Coast that is open for business to all human beings.

The Naughty Noodle Fun Haus - what is it?

It was founded in July 2018 as a registered charity, an arts and culture organisation meeting the need for visible world-class fringe and counter culture activations. We are intentionally leveraging the power of arts and culture to serve our community interest while driving a broader agenda for change, growth and transformation. We have created a new product for the Central Coast which is enhancing tourism and local business with food, beverage, night time economy and local artist and tech employment as well as bringing more worlds class artists to the region who would not have considered us as a stop over 12 months ago. Sydney now makes up our second largest audience demographic. The Naughty Noodle produced Coastal Twist as well as our ongoing sold-out first season.

What drives you?

I truly believe each individual has something unique to share with the world and creating the space for that makes my heart sing. I believe you have to be the change you wish to see and am passionate about a balanced society where everyone's differences is embraced, valued and celebrated. The power of the arts can shape culture and shift perception, expand and change views.

You are a "Community Hero" finalist in the 2020 NSW Women of the Year Awards. How do you feel?

I was taken aback. As a women and arts practitioner leading a regional arts organisation this has been the most challenging and rewarding 18 months of my life. Being a finalist is more than an honour - it's a pulse on what's happening in our broader society. It signifies the Central Coast is on the right track.

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